Jack Conte on Building Algorithms That Serve People, Not Ad Revenue

The Problem with Attention-Based Algorithms

• 🧠 The current internet experience is dominated by attention-based algorithms that prioritize short-term fixation over long-term human connection.
• ⚠️ These algorithms, controlled by tech companies, often optimize for ad revenue by exploiting human attention, leading to negative psychological effects like loneliness, depression, and polarization.
• 📉 The focus on attention has replaced meaningful connections and community building with rage bait, A.I. reels, and other content designed to keep users glued to their screens.

Reimagining the Internet Experience

• 💡 Jack Conte, CEO of Patreon, advocates for a fundamental shift in how algorithms are designed, moving from serving companies to serving people and creators.
• 🛠️ The goal is to create a more human algorithm that fosters creativity and human connection, rather than exploiting users for profit.

Principles for a Better Algorithm

• 🤝 Prioritize long-term relationships: Algorithms should focus on fostering deeper connections by surfacing a creator's full catalog and helping users get to know individuals over time, rather than promoting fleeting trends.
• 💰 Fund art, not ads: The business model should shift from extracting ad revenue to directly compensating creators for their work, which would foster an explosion of diverse artistic content.
• 🧑‍💻 Put humans in control: Algorithms should be augmented by human curation, allowing creators and super-fans to recommend content and creators, bringing back a more discerning and personalized discovery experience.

The Value of Creators and Art

• ✨ Societies that value artists are richer for it, as artists take risks, express shared thoughts, foster community, and inspire new ideas and perspectives.
• 🚀 An internet designed around creators and their audiences, rather than advertisers, has the potential to be a vibrant space for art, connection, and meaningful human experience.